Imperial China — 7 Cities & 1 Night Yangtze Cruise
Seven cities, the Great Wall, an army of warriors, giant pandas and two of China's great rivers — one seamless private journey
From
£2,200pp
About this tour
Most China itineraries make you choose: the imperial north or the karst-peak south, the pandas or the rivers, the warriors or the skyline. This 18-night private journey refuses to. Seven cities — Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai — are threaded together by first-rate high-speed trains, two short flights and one of the loveliest boat journeys on earth, the Li River cruise through the limestone towers of Guangxi. The roll-call of sights is the full imperial set: the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the best-preserved and most beautiful section within reach of Beijing; the Forbidden City; the Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an's intact Ming city wall; the giant pandas of Chengdu and the 71-metre Buddha at Leshan; Chongqing's Hongyadong stilt houses, the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings and an evening sightseeing cruise beneath the neon canyons of the Yangtze; Longji's sweeping rice terraces; bamboo-raft country on the Yulong River; the Impression Sanjie Liu light show staged on the Li River itself; and finally Shanghai, with the Ming-dynasty Yu Garden and a farewell morning of street-food tasting. Wei Zhang, our Beijing-based China specialist, paces it the way he would for his own parents: comfortable four- and five-star hotels of two or three nights apiece, seated travel days between the big sightseeing days, and a private guide and vehicle throughout so that every early start and every queue is handled for you.
“Designed by Wei Zhang, our China specialist with 14 years of private guiding based in Beijing.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Seven cities in one trip — no second visit to China required to feel you have seen it
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu: cable car up, quieter ramparts, and time to take it in slowly
- Three high-speed rail journeys in first-class comfort instead of back-to-back flights
- Two river cruises — the Yangtze by night in Chongqing and the Li River by day — both enjoyed from a seat
- Two- and three-night hotel stays throughout, so you are never packing every morning
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Beijing
Beijing
Very lightNovotel Beijing Peace
Welcome to Beijing
Beijing
You arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel, the Novotel Beijing Peace. The capital city awaits, with three nights here to settle in and find your feet.
2The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Beijing / Mutianyu
ActiveNovotel Beijing Peace
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Beijing / Mutianyu
Today you visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved stretches of this extraordinary ancient fortification — 22 watchtowers strung along forested ridges. The scale and setting are genuinely breathtaking, and there is time to take it all in at a comfortable pace.
3The Forbidden City
Beijing
Moderate morning on flat ground, free afternoonNovotel Beijing Peace
The Forbidden City
Beijing
This morning you explore the Forbidden City, the vast imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing. Its grand courtyards, ornate gates and centuries of history make for a memorable and absorbing visit, with the afternoon free to rest or wander further.
4High-Speed Train to Xi'an
Beijing → Xi'an
Travel dayXi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
High-Speed Train to Xi'an
Beijing → Xi'an
You board a high-speed G-class train for the approximately four-and-a-half-hour journey southwest to Xi'an. On arrival you check in to the Xi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel, ready to explore this ancient city.
5Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an
ModerateXi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an
Today you visit the remarkable Terracotta Warriors, the buried army of the first Qin Emperor, discovered only in 1974 and still one of the world's great archaeological wonders. The sheer number and detail of the figures never fails to astonish.
6The Ancient City Wall
Xi'an
Gentle to moderateXi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
The Ancient City Wall
Xi'an
This morning you walk or cycle along Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, one of the most complete Ming-dynasty fortifications in China. It is a fine way to appreciate the old city laid out below you before your journey continues tomorrow.
7Train South to Chengdu
Xi'an → Chengdu
Travel dayDorsett Chengdu
Train South to Chengdu
Xi'an → Chengdu
A high-speed D-class train carries you south to Chengdu in around three and a half hours. You check in to the Dorsett Chengdu with three comfortable nights here ahead of you.
8Morning at the Panda Base
Chengdu
Active morning with gentle slopes, free afternoonDorsett Chengdu
Morning at the Panda Base
Chengdu
This morning you visit Chengdu's famous panda base for a half-day tour, coming face to face with some of China's most beloved animals. The base does important conservation work and the pandas themselves are quite irresistible.
9Day Trip to Leshan Giant Buddha
Chengdu / Leshan
ModerateDorsett Chengdu
Day Trip to Leshan Giant Buddha
Chengdu / Leshan
Today is a full day trip to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha, carved into the cliff face where three rivers meet and standing over 70 metres tall. It is a striking and peaceful sight, well worth the journey.
10High-Speed Train to Chongqing
Chengdu → Chongqing
Easy travel day with a free eveningGlenview ITC Plaza Chongqing
High-Speed Train to Chongqing
Chengdu → Chongqing
A short high-speed G-class train of around an hour and a half brings you to Chongqing, the vast city set dramatically on hills above the Yangtze. You check in to the five-star Glenview ITC Plaza Chongqing for two nights.
11Stilt Houses, Rock Carvings and the Yangtze
Chongqing / Dazu
The fullest day of the tourGlenview ITC Plaza Chongqing
Stilt Houses, Rock Carvings and the Yangtze
Chongqing / Dazu
A full day of Chongqing highlights: you explore the atmospheric Hongyadong Stilt Houses, take a day trip to see the extraordinary UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings — thousands of Buddhist figures carved into the hillsides between the 9th and 13th centuries — and round off the evening with a sightseeing cruise on the Yangtze River beneath the city's illuminated skyline.
12On to Guilin
Chongqing → Guilin
Travel dayBravo Hotel Guilin
On to Guilin
Chongqing → Guilin
You travel from Chongqing to Guilin by direct domestic flight, arriving in the famous karst landscape of southern China. The Bravo Hotel Guilin, facing the lake, is your home for the next two nights.
13Elephant Trunk Hill and the Rice Terraces
Guilin / Longji
ActiveBravo Hotel Guilin
Elephant Trunk Hill and the Rice Terraces
Guilin / Longji
Today you visit Elephant Trunk Hill, one of Guilin's most recognisable landmarks, and take a day trip up to the magnificent Longji Rice Terraces, carved into the mountain slopes in great sweeping tiers. It is a landscape quite unlike anything else.
14The Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Guilin → Yangshuo
A seated, scenic day on the waterAroma Lily Hotel Yangshuo
The Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Guilin → Yangshuo
This morning you board a premium sightseeing boat for the legendary Li River cruise, drifting for around four hours through a landscape of soaring limestone peaks and tranquil green water, arriving at the charming town of Yangshuo. Your luggage travels ahead by road so you can travel without a care.
15Yulong River Rafting
Yangshuo
GentleAroma Lily Hotel Yangshuo
Yulong River Rafting
Yangshuo
Today you take to the water again with a rafting trip along the peaceful Yulong River, surrounded by the same dramatic karst scenery that makes this corner of China so unforgettable. It is a gently adventurous and very scenic way to spend the day.
16Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Light Show
Yangshuo
Restful day, seated evening showAroma Lily Hotel Yangshuo
Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Light Show
Yangshuo
A quieter day in Yangshuo before the highlight of the evening: the spectacular Impression Sanjie Liu outdoor light show, staged on the Li River itself with the karst peaks as a backdrop and a cast of hundreds. It is a remarkable production and a wonderful final evening in the area.
17Fly to Shanghai
Yangshuo → Guilin Airport → Shanghai
Travel dayCentral Hotel Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai
Yangshuo → Guilin Airport → Shanghai
A private vehicle transfers you from Yangshuo to Guilin Airport, where you board a direct domestic flight to Shanghai. On arrival you check in to the Central Hotel Shanghai, your base for the final three nights of the journey.
18Yu Garden
Shanghai
GentleCentral Hotel Shanghai
Yu Garden
Shanghai
Today you visit Yu Garden, the classical Ming-dynasty garden tucked into the heart of old Shanghai, a serene and beautifully detailed retreat from the bustle of the city all around it. The rest of the day is yours — the Bund is a short stroll away.
19Farewell China
Shanghai
Gentle morning, then departure
Farewell China
Shanghai
This morning you join a three-hour local food tasting tour — a delicious and sociable way to discover the flavours and street-food traditions of one of Asia's greatest cities — before a private transfer to Shanghai's international airport for your flight home.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Full sightseeing days balanced by seated train journeys and river cruises. The Great Wall, Longji Rice Terraces and Xi'an city wall involve genuine steps and inclines; most other days are 3–5km on manageable ground.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Novotel Beijing Peace
★★★★Wangfujing, Beijing · 3 nights
A dependable four-star base just off Wangfujing in the heart of the capital — comfortable rooms, a solid breakfast and the Forbidden City a short drive away.
- Central Wangfujing location
- Short transfer to the main sights
- Reliable four-star comfort
Xi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
★★★★Within the city walls, Xi'an · 2 nights
A spacious boutique hotel in the heart of the old walled city — quiet, characterful and well placed for the Bell Tower and the city wall.
- Inside the ancient city walls
- Boutique character
- Walking distance to the Bell Tower
Dorsett Chengdu
★★★★Central Chengdu · 3 nights
A modern four-star tower in central Chengdu, well positioned for the Panda Base and the Leshan day trip, with three nights to settle in.
- Modern rooms with city views
- Convenient for the Panda Base
- Three-night stay — no daily packing
Glenview ITC Plaza Chongqing
★★★★★Central Chongqing · 2 nights
A central five-star tower above the mountain city, a short transfer from Hongyadong, Chaotianmen pier and the evening cruise on the Yangtze.
- Five-star comfort mid-tour
- Central location above the rivers
- Close to the night-cruise pier
Bravo Hotel Guilin
★★★★Lakeside, Guilin · 2 nights
A four-star hotel facing Guilin's lake, with karst peaks on the skyline from the front rooms and the flat lakeside promenade outside the door.
- Lake-facing location
- Karst views from front rooms
- Lakeside strolls on the doorstep
Aroma Lily Hotel Yangshuo
★★★Yangshuo town · 3 nights
A friendly three-star hotel in Yangshuo town with garden paths and karst peaks overhead — simple, clean and perfectly placed for the river and the light show.
- Garden setting beneath the peaks
- Close to the Impression Sanjie Liu show
- Three-night stay in the countryside
Central Hotel Shanghai
★★★★People's Square, Shanghai · 3 nights
A well-named four-star hotel by People's Square — the Bund, Yu Garden and the Nanjing Road are all within easy reach for your final days.
- Central People's Square location
- Easy reach of the Bund
- Ideal final-night base
Enhance your trip
Business-class flight upgrade
+£from £1,650 per person
Fly London–Beijing and Shanghai–London in business class with lie-flat seats — a real difference on a journey of this length.
Extra night in Beijing before the tour
+£from £95 per person
Arrive a day early to shake off the flight before the Great Wall — same room at the Novotel Beijing Peace.
Extra nights in Shanghai
+£from £110 per person per night
Extend your stay at the Central Hotel Shanghai — the French Concession and the Bund at night deserve more than a glance.
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,200
per person · 2 sharing
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£640 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- Return international flights from London
- 18 nights' hand-picked accommodation in 3- to 5-star hotels
- Private English-speaking guide and private vehicle transfers throughout
- Daily breakfast
- Rail journeys: Beijing → Xi'an · Xi'an → Chengdu · Chengdu → Chongqing
- Internal flights: Chongqing → Guilin · Guilin → Shanghai
- Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo on a premium sightseeing boat
- Great Wall at Mutianyu with cable car
- Forbidden City
- Terracotta Warriors
- Xi'an Ancient City Wall
- Chengdu Panda Base half-day tour
- Leshan Giant Buddha day trip
- Hongyadong Stilt Houses, Dazu Rock Carvings day trip & Yangtze River evening sightseeing cruise
- Elephant Trunk Hill & Longji Rice Terraces day trip
- Yulong River rafting
- Impression Sanjie Liu evening light show
- Yu Garden & Shanghai street-food tasting tour
- Full ATOL 10205 financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required)
- China visa fees
- Lunches and dinners not stated in the itinerary
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Wei Zhang
Wei was born in Beijing and grew up exploring the hutong lanes of the old city with his grandfather, who spent weekends taking him through the Palace Museum. He studied Chinese history at Capital Normal University, then spent six years as a guide at the Palace Museum, where daily contact with imperial art and artefacts gave him a depth of knowledge few private guides can match. He moved into private touring in 2010 and has worked with Holidays to Asia exclusively since 2015. His English is warm and precise, his patience with questions unlimited, and his ability to make thousands of years of Chinese history feel genuinely personal — rather than overwhelming — is the quality guests mention most in their reviews.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
Tourist visa (L visa) required for British citizens. Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). Fee approx £155. 4 business days standard processing. Full guidance provided with booking confirmation.
Currency
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB/CNY). £1 ≈ 9 RMB. Credit cards accepted at all hotels. Mobile payments (WeChat Pay) essential for independent spending — your guide helps set this up. Bring some RMB cash.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional in Chinese culture but is appreciated in the tourism industry. Guide: £20–25/day is appropriate. Hotel staff: 20–30 RMB per service. Drivers: 50–100 RMB per day.
Electricity
220V, 50Hz. Type A (flat two-pin) and Type I (Australian-style) sockets. A universal travel adaptor covers all needs.
Health & vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations. Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus recommended. Air quality in Beijing can be poor in winter — those with respiratory conditions should check AQI before travel. Tap water not safe to drink throughout China — bottled water provided at all hotels.
Flights
Fly London to Beijing (PEK or PKX) with Air China, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic — direct in around 10.5 hours. Return from Shanghai (PVG) on an open-jaw ticket, included.
Local transport
Private vehicle and guide throughout. Three high-speed rail journeys (Beijing–Xi'an, Xi'an–Chengdu, Chengdu–Chongqing). Two internal flights (Chongqing–Guilin, Guilin–Shanghai). Li River cruise boat Guilin–Yangshuo. All transfers included.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China?
Yes — British citizens require a tourist visa (L visa), obtained from the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre before travel. It costs approximately £155 and standard processing takes around 4 business days. We provide full visa guidance with your booking confirmation.
How fit do I need to be for this tour?
Reasonably active. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Longji Rice Terraces and the optional descent at Leshan all involve genuine steps and inclines, and the Chongqing day runs from morning to late evening. That said, this is a private tour: every demanding element has a gentler alternative — the cable car at Mutianyu, the boat at Leshan, sedan chairs or the cable car at Longji — and your guide adjusts the pace daily to suit you. If step-free is what you need, our accessible version of this route is the better choice.
Is the Yangtze cruise an overnight cruise?
No — it is an evening sightseeing cruise from Chongqing's Chaotianmen pier, drifting beneath the illuminated skyline where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet, and you sleep in your five-star hotel. If you would prefer three nights sailing the Three Gorges aboard a cruise ship, ask us about the 3-night Yangtze version of this itinerary.
When is the best time to go?
April–May and September–October are ideal across the whole route — mild in Beijing and Xi'an, clear in the gorges and pleasantly warm in sub-tropical Guilin. The Longji terraces are flooded and mirror-like in late spring and golden before the autumn harvest. Summer is hot and humid in the south; winter is cold in the north but quiet everywhere. We avoid the Golden Week national holiday on every departure.
I am travelling on my own — does this tour work for solo travellers?
Very well. It is entirely private, so the itinerary, pace and mealtimes are yours alone, with a guide and driver looking after the practicalities in each city. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of £640 for sole occupancy of the same rooms throughout.
What is the weather like across seven cities?
You cross most of China's climate zones in 18 nights. Expect Beijing and Xi'an to be dry and cool-to-mild in spring and autumn, Chengdu and Chongqing milder and often overcast, and Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai warmer and more humid with a chance of showers. Layers, one warm jacket and a compact umbrella cover every leg of the journey.
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